Archive for the ‘Tomorrow’s Practice Today’ Category

The instillation of ocular pharmaceuticals has been around for more than 100 years. From diagnostic agents we instill in the office, to prescription pharmaceuticals patients administer themselves, very little has changed about the delivery mechanism over the years. Read the rest of this entry ?

Dutch technology development firm LUXeXceL Group announced June 20 it had produced the world’s first fully 3-D-printed functional eyewear (with both lenses and frames produced through the 3-D printing process) and presented them as a gift to Dutch King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxim. LUXeXcel emphasized the eyeglasses shown here represent a first proof of concept for the laser printing of eyewear. Company officials note the product is not ready for market, and it does not yet have a business model in place; however, they consider the process ”very promising.”

By Dominick M. Maino, O.D., and Geoffrey W. Goodfellow, O.D.

It was the year 2020. Our patient previously completed an at-home self-refraction (she emailed us the results), so we had some preliminary information on what the power of her glasses might be. After verifying this, we completed a full comprehensive eye and vision examination moments later. At the end of this evaluation, the patient than asked, “Doctor, can you print my new glasses now?”

Science fact or science fiction?

Printing in 3-D is a manufacturing technique resulting in the creation of a real-world object by placing material in layers using an additive methodology.

Like many facets of eye care, technology is changing the way we practice optometry.

Particularly in the area of low vision, the abundance of inexpensive computing power and applications targeted to patients with visual impairment has really expanded what we can offer. Read the rest of this entry ?

Patients who have experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or concussion often experience numerous eye and vision abnormalities. These frequently include binocular vision, accommodative and oculomotor dysfunctions, as well as vision information processing disorders and numerous pathological sequelae. It is important for AOA members to ensure their patients are aware of the risks and signs of concussion associated with sports and how technology is helping in the areas of on-field safety and diagnosis of this life-threatening disorder. Read the rest of this entry ?

Automated handheld equipment can be an important resource for optometrists in gathering information about patients’ vision and health. Such devices are particularly helpful in working with children or patients who have physical limitations in aligning their head inside more traditional table-top instrumentation. Many eye care professionals already rely on automated devices to measure such things as intraocular pressure, blood pressure, or refractive error. Now, a new generation of handheld automated pupillometers is proving useful in evaluating both eye problems and systemic conditions from head trauma to Parkinson’s. Read the rest of this entry ?

U.S. Senate Leader Introduces AOA-Backed NHSC Optometric Inclusion Bill With backing from the AOA and the Arkansas Optometric Association, United States Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) yesterday introduced into the U.S. Senate the National Health Service Corps Improvement Act – an … Continue reading →